At Wednesday’s Seattle Seahawks practice, tensions flared as at least five altercations broke out, marking one of the most heated sessions in recent memory. The most notable skirmish involved star wide receiver DK Metcalf, who swung a helmet at cornerback Tre Brown during the fracas.
Despite new head coach Mike Macdonald briefly pausing practice to address the escalating intensity, the scuffles continued. Reflecting on the practice, Macdonald expressed pride in his team’s intensity, saying, “We’ve been getting after it. I’m proud of how we responded today. We’ve been out here for what feels like 14 of the past 16 days, and I think the guys are just tired of going against each other. But the spirit is high, and we had a great practice. We’re excited for Saturday,” referencing their upcoming preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
The first altercation kicked off during an 11-on-11 drill when Brown and wide receiver Jake Bobo clashed, exchanging blows that left Bobo with a bloodied nose. As Bobo received attention from a trainer on the sideline, tensions spilled over again when tight end Pharaoh Brown took exception to a hard hit from linebacker Tyrel Dodson on running back Ken Walker III, leading to another confrontation.
Shortly after, Brown and Metcalf engaged in a heated exchange in the end zone, culminating in Metcalf grabbing Brown’s helmet and swinging it, inadvertently striking safety K’Von Wallace. The incident prompted Macdonald to cut the music and gather the team for a brief intervention.
Yet, the confrontations didn’t end there. Wide receiver Dee Eskridge and cornerback Carlton Johnson squared off later in the same period, and another brawl erupted during one-on-one drills between edge rusher Derick Hall and guard Christian Haynes, resulting in both players being ejected from practice.
When asked about the fine line between competitiveness and crossing the line during practice, Macdonald acknowledged the situation, stating, “We’re right on the line right now, and I think the guys realize that. We need to take care of one another. We definitely don’t want people fighting, especially against our own teammates. DK gave a great message at the end of practice, putting everything into perspective. The guys finished out the right way. I’m proud of our team.”
